Undergraduate Admissions

Environmental Engineering

All environmental engineering students complete a design
project during their senior year that is tied to a local or
international environmental problem or challenge. Examples of
recent senior design projects include:

an innovative water filtration system that uses materials
locally available in Bangladesh, enabling residents to produce
their own water filters to reduce the amount of naturally occurring
arsenic in the water.

an aquaponics system for a local nonprofit center. The system
combines raising fish for human consumption with producing fruits
and vegetables. The waste products from the fish become fertilizer
for the plants, resulting in a low-cost, environmentally friendly
way to grow food and protect water quality at the same time.

renewable energy studies of wind energy and solar panels for
the Gannon campus and studies of the hydrology and water quality of
local streams.

You Will Learn

Environmental engineers solve environmental quality problems. Students learn how to make water safe to drink and release back into the environment. Students also learn how humans and the environment are adversely affected by human activities and natural processes that generate pollution. Environmental engineering students are also engaged in developing ways to convert waste materials into useful products, especially renewable energy. The environmental engineering program is for students who enjoy science, are mathematically inclined and have a passion to make Earth a cleaner, safer, better place.

You Will Experience

The environmental engineering major at Gannon University
provides students with numerous real world learning opportunities
to further their understanding of environmental problems and their
solutions.

LAKE ERIE: students are provided with unique classroom and
field research experiences due to the university's proximity to
Lake Erie, access to state-of-the-art field equipment and use of
the Environaut - a lake-going vessel used to conduct water quality
monitoring.

RESEARCH: Undergraduates have the opportunity to
participate in ongoing research projects within the
department.

INTERNSHIPS: Many students participate in summer internship
opportunities including those at government agencies, local and
regional industries, nonprofit organizations and privately
consulting firms.

TRAVEL: A senior capstone course has been offered on the topic
of climate change which includes a culminating spring trip to
Iceland.

You Will Achieve

Environmental engineers are in high demand. The U.S. government
forecasts strong growth in environmental engineering. Such
opportunities include the following:

Many of our graduates choose to work for a government agency,
while others decide to continue their education in Gannon's
environmental health and engineering graduate program.

Most of our graduates work for private companies. Many of these
companies are consulting firms specializing in environmental areas,
but some of our graduates work in-house for larger companies that
need their own staff of environmental specialists.

All graduates are prepared to take the Fundamentals of
Engineering exam which is the first step to becoming a licensed
professional engineer.

You will Study

The environmental engineering curriculum begins with fundamental concepts and builds as students advance through the program. Students’ senior year brings together science and math previously learned and applies it as students work in teams to complete their senior design project, solving real environmental quality problems or addressing an engineering opportunity. Environmental engineering majors take various core and elective courses including:

ENV 336/337 Water Quality and Lab

This course covers the major types of water pollution of concern to
the environmental professional. Topics covered include water
quality impacted by organic and nutrient pollution in surface and
groundwater, as well as the water quality consequences of heavy
metal and toxic organic pollution.

ENV 400/401 Environmental Toxicology and Lab

This course focuses on the properties, effects and detection of
chemical substances in the environment and how that information is
used to protect human health. Topics covered include dose-response
relationships, biotransformation, risk assessment and the
standard-setting process.

ENV 403 Environmental Engineering

This upper-level course applies the principles of science and
engineering to pollution management. Specifically covered in the
course are chemical kinetics, mass balance, mass transfer, water
and wastewater treatment, air pollution control and solid and
hazardous waste management.

Liberal Studies Core

The Liberal Studies Core Curriculum is one reflection of Gannon University's commitment to
its Catholic identity. The Core's design offers students a defined, integrated, shared
experience as the foundation for their undergraduate program.

You Will Earn

Salaries in the field vary depending on the location and type of
organization.